on the fiscal cliff today, hoping to avoid steep spending cuts and tax increases. kristin welker is at the white house where the president had a high-profile meeting with congressional lawmakers on friday. good morning. >> reporter: carl, good morning to you. all eyes are on the senate this morning as majority leader harry reid and minority leader mcconnell true to cobble together a last-minute plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. president obama saying he is modestly optimistic that they can come up with a plan in time. on friday, president obama met with the four top congressional leaders here at the white house for about an hour. sources close to those talks say that the president gave lawmakers two options, either come up with a plan that can make it through both chambers or put his proposal up for a vote. under the president's plan, the bush-era tax cuts would be extended for those making $250,000 or less with rates allowed to raise on top income earners. it would also extend unemployment insurance benefits. president obama saying the time for action is now. >> the